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Using Multi-fluorinated Bile Acids and In Vivo Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Measure Bile Acid Transport
Published on: November 27, 2016
Interference with bile salt export pump function is a susceptibility factor for human liver injury in drug
Ryan E Morgan1, Michael Trauner, Carlo J van Staden
1Department of Comparative Biology and Safety Sciences Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, California 91320, USA.
This study shows that interference with the bile salt export pump (BSEP) is strongly linked to human liver injury. Understanding BSEP inhibition helps predict and prevent drug-induced liver toxicity often missed in animal models.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Drug Metabolism and Transport
- Toxicology
Background:
- The bile salt export pump (BSEP) is crucial for eliminating bile salts from liver cells.
- Disruption of BSEP causes liver injury, including progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis type 2.
- Drug-induced BSEP interference is a suspected cause of liver injury, but preclinical models are unreliable.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between BSEP function interference and human hepatotoxicity.
- To evaluate the utility of an in vitro BSEP assay using benchmark compounds.
- To identify potential BSEP-mediated liver liabilities not detected by standard preclinical models.
Main Methods:
- Utilized membrane vesicles from BSEP-transfected insect cells.
- Assessed the activity of over 200 benchmark compounds (marketed or withdrawn drugs).
- Correlated compound activity with known clinical outcomes and hepatotoxicity.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated a strong association between pharmacological interference with BSEP function and human hepatotoxicity.
- Identified BSEP inhibition as a significant factor in drug-induced liver injury.
- Highlighted limitations of current preclinical animal models for predicting BSEP-related toxicity.
Conclusions:
- Potency for BSEP interference is a key indicator of potential liver liability.
- This in vitro approach can help predict and avoid BSEP-related liver injury in drug development.
- Integrating BSEP inhibition data with other drug attributes improves risk assessment for human hepatotoxicity.
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